Addressing Performance Challenges at Patton Fuller Community Hospital

Introduction

Patton Fuller Community Hospital is a reputable healthcare facility situated in Kelsey, California. However, despite its prestige, the hospital has been experiencing inefficiencies in its operations. This essay aims to conduct an analysis of the Patton Fuller Community Hospital case study in order to identify the challenges faced by the organization and the appropriate recommendations to address them.

Key Performance Indicators

Patton Fuller Community Hospital's case study reveals that the healthcare facility has been having difficulties in key areas of performance. The following KPIs indicate the challenge experienced by the hospital regarding performance:

1. Decrease in Net Income: Patton Fuller Community Hospital has experienced a decline in its net income from $1.5 million to $1.1 million by the end of the fiscal year, representing a decrease of 27 percent.
2. Increased Cost of Goods Sold: The cost of goods sold by the hospital increased by six percent during the fiscal year, indicating a wastage of resources.
3. Increase in Operating Expenses: The hospital has experienced an increase in operating expenses by 18 percent, resulting in a decrease in profitability.
4. Low Employee Productivity: Patton Fuller Community Hospital has low employee productivity levels, as indicated by the low number of patients attending the hospital.

Challenges Faced by Patton Fuller Community Hospital

Patton Fuller Community Hospital is facing some challenges that have contributed to the drop in performance. The critical challenges that could hinder the hospital's performance are:

1. Inadequate Management: Lack of proper management has hindered the hospital's growth, leading to a decrease in the net income of the facility.
2. Fluctuation in Supply Costs: The fluctuation of supply costs has led to increased operating expenses in the hospital.
3. Inefficient Communication: Ineffective communication between departments has led to a decrease in the productivity of the hospital staff.
4. Inadequate IT Infrastructure: The hospital lacks adequate IT infrastructure, which has contributed to an increase in the cost of goods sold.

Recommendations

To address the challenges facing Patton Fuller Community Hospital, the following recommendations are appropriate:

1. Implement Effective Management Principles: The hospital should put into practice appropriate management principles to increase its efficiency, leading to growth in profitability.
2. Implement Lean Principles: The hospital should practice lean principles to improve the efficiency of supply chain management, reducing the cost of goods sold.
3. Adopt Electronic Medical Record System: The hospital should invest in an electronic medical record system to enhance its IT infrastructure and improve the accuracy of medical data, leading to increased efficiency at the hospital.
4. Improve Communication: The hospital should develop effective communication methods between departments to increase the productivity of staff, leading to an improvement in their operations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Patton Fuller Community Hospital is experiencing numerous challenges that have been reflected in its decreased profitability and poor performance. However, adopting adequate management principles, incorporating lean principles, improving its IT infrastructure, and improving communication across departments will help to mitigate these challenges effectively. By implementing these recommendations, the hospital can improve its efficiency, productivity, and financial performance in the long run.